Insole or support for deformed feet.



I. TAUBER.

INSOLE OR SUPPORT FOR DEFORMED FEET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

' i atented Nov. 16, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

y mamas :52 were??? I. TAUBER. INSOLE 0B SUPPORT FOR DEFORMED FEET.

'APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

Patented N0v.16,1909

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i. TAUBER. INSOLE ORSUPPORT FOR DEFORMED FEET.

APPLIOAK ION FILED NOV.30, 1908.

Patented NOV. 16, 1909.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

(ilzanrar ISIDOR TAUBER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

IN SOLE OR SUPPORT FOR DEFORMEI) FEET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Application filed November 30, 1908. Serial No. 465,314.

To all whom it may concern: Be itknown that I, IsmoR TAUBER, sub ect of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain ne and useful Improvements in Insoles or Supports for Deformed Feet, of which the following is a specification.

For curing flat, heel .and club feet suitably shaped supports are in use which are placed and fixed in the boots or shoes and during the progress of the cure are taken out and exchanged for other supports. Apart from the necessity of using and fixing different supports there is also the drawback that the supports at present in use otter a hard bearing surface to the footand by their increased pressure cause pains.

The present invention has for its object to obviate the above drawbacks and consists essentially in an insole or support which is provided at suitable places with inflatable cushions of proper form, whereby a local and elastic pressure may be exerted on the dcformed part or parts of the foot, which pressure may be varied according to the progof the cure.

In the accompanying drawings various kinds of supportsconstructed according to the present invention are shown.

Figures 1, Qand 3 show in top-view, bottom-view and transverse section respectively one modification of a flat-foot support or insole; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are like views of a second modification. of a flat foot support; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show in top-view, bottom view and cross-section respectively a support for heel-feet and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are similar views of club-foot supports; 40

Figs. 13 and 14. show in plan view and sectional elevation respectively an inflatable cushion.

The cushion a is preferably made of caoutchouc, india-rubber or the like covered with cloth. The edge of the cloth projects all around and is used for attaching the cushion to a support 6. The latter preferablyconsists of cork or leather and is glued on to a rigid plate 0 of suitable shape, made of card-board, vulcanite, hard'rubber or the like, which prevents the cushion from expanding downward upon inflation. The upper surface of the cushion is spanned over either in the longitudinal or in the transverse direction by-a band (5 which is slack several cushions.

when the cushion is not inflated, but upon inflation becomes taut and prevents the inflation from beino carried too far. The cushion is provided with an air tube f and is placed within. a case g which has the form of an insole preferably raised at the portion which receives the cushion. The fixing of the cushion at the proper place within the case 9 isdone by means of a band or string it put through holes 2' provided for this purpose in the insole. The band or string 2' can be easily removed for the purpose of exchanging the cushion. The inflation tube f is extended rearward and is furnished with a valve-piece 70. It projects from the case 9 through a suitable opening or hole. When the cushion has to be removed the tube f is pushed through the hole into the case 9' so that it lies between the two layers of the case or'insole, whereupon the cushion together with the tube may be taken out through the opening or slit at the heel-end of the insole. This slit-shaped opening-is.

as a rule closed by a cap m fixed to one layer of the insole and pulled over the heel-end of the other layer. It required there may be also a heel-cushion 17. (Figs. 2,3 and -l1, 12) provided with an independent tube f and valve is which is covered by the cap m. The tube 7 and, if there is a heel-cushion, the tube 7', or in the case of an independ ently inflatable insole as in Figs. 8 and 9, the tube f may be placed together with their valves either in a cavity of the heel, or in a trough-shaped groove p of a Wedgeplate 0 fixed to the under side of the insole (Figs. 5, 6).

The wedge-shaped plate which also assists in giving the foot the proper position may be fixed to the under side of the insole by means of the cap m and another cap band or loop q secured at the waist of the insole. The wedge-plate may thus be readily removed, either to be exchanged for another plate, or in order to enable the band or string 71 to be taken out and the cushion a to be removed. For heel-feet two yielding cushions placed on both sides of the waist are used or one cushion extending over the Whole width of the foot is employed which is divided by two bands 8 spanned over into To aid the action ofthe cushions the insole mhy be placed on a. suitably shaped metallic support r (Figs. 8 and 9) which is fixed in the caps ya and g and rem secesstains the cushions in the proper positions. Suit-able holes are provided in the support 1' for the air tubes.

For club-foot supports the elastic cushions are placed on the outer side of the waist, as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

Near the outer holes which form air-cells and allow oi" the access of the air to the foot, whereby a good ventilation is obtained.

Claim. l

1. An insole or support for curing; (lo-l formed feet, comprising a rigid plate, a yielding or tiexiblecover attached to the plate and forming a "pocket therewith, ere changeable and locally attachable air-cushions inserted in said pocket which afl'ord to the foot at the deformed places a yielding l support and decrease the surface pressure, and means for confining said air cushions to limited sections of the insole, whereby the 5 said cushions can be shaped exactly to the l foot by inflation according as the cure pro grosses. l

2. An insole or support as described com prising an air-cushion consisting of caoutchouc covered with cloth, a support for said ir cushion made of yielding material and attached to said cloth cover, a rigid plate carrying said yielding material which prevents the cushion from expanding or bulging downward, and a band spanned over the cushion and limiting the inflation upward.

3. An insole or support as described comprising two layers forming a ocket, a removable cushion retained in position between the two layers of the solo by means of a lacing band or string, put through the layers edge of the'insole there are of the insole and forming the space receiving the air-cushion. I

a. An insole or support described consisting of two layers forming" a pocket an connected all around the edge except at the heel end of the insole, ion inserted between the two layers and in the pocket, lacing passing through the layers and confining the aircushion to a limited section, the opening at the heel end through which the cushion. is inserted or removed being adapted to be closed by a cap fixed to one layer and pulled over the end of the other layer.

5. An insole or support as described con'r prising two layers, an air-cushion provided with a tube and inserted between the layers, a wedge-shaped plate which'assists in giva removable air cl ush ing the proper position to the foot and serves for recelvlng the tube of the cushion and 1s removably attached to the under side of the insole.

6; An insole or su iport as described comprising two layers, an air cushion inserted between the twolayers, a cap attached to the end of one of the layers, a wedge-shaped supporting plate for the cushion attached to the under ride of the insole by means of the cap and a band fixed at the center of the insole.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

ltfil DOB TAUBER.

Witnesses:

.l osnr lltunencn, lincns'r Fnccnn. 

